Improvement in vehicle-wheels



A r W/ c d w v o m t j T. BURNETT. Vehicle Wheel.

To all 0m it may concern: 7

Be i nown that I, THEODORE BURNETT, of Sp field, Olarke county, Ohio, have invente rtain new and useful Improvements in s for Vehicles, of which the following is j pecification:

Thi vention relates to that class of vehicle-wh s whose spoke butts or feet are seated on a c which latter is capable of being adusted igitudinally of the hub in either directio 0 as to effect a simultaneous advancement etraction of all the spokes radially witho hifting their feet either toward the outer l nner end of the hub; and my invention c rises a novel combination of devices Where h such radial adjustments can be readil ffected by the simple rotation of a clamp' -plate, and without the bodily removal any of the component members of the w I the details of my combination being herein er fully described.

In t nnexed drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudina ection through my improved hub. Fig. 2 a transverse section of the same, a portio i the spokes being shown in position. Fig. 3 an elevation of the shiftable cone upon oh the feet of the spokes rest; and Fig. 4 n elevation on a reduced scale, showmg th arious parts of the hub detached from c 1 other.

The ncipal member of my hub is the box A, wh' is traversed with an axial bore, B, to rece the spindle in the usual manner. The 0 end of this box has a male screw, (3, tha ngages with the female screw D of hub b or nut E, whose square or non-circular Ir ar F facilitates the rotation of said nut. t with this box is a hemispherical shell, having a smooth annular wall, H, which 11 is about perpendicularto the axis of sai ox. Furthermore, this shell G is chamb (I out at I to admit the larger end of a cone that fits snugly but not tightly on the 00th exterior of box A. This cone is pro v d with radial ribs or flanges K and spaces constituting sockets, within which are fitt the feet of the spokes M, as seen in Fig. 2, id spokes being shouldered at N to rest s *ly against the peripheries of said IMPROVEMENT IN VEHICLE-WHEELS.

,ITE'D STATES, PATENT OFFICE,

THEODORE BURNETT, OF SPRINGFIELD, OHIO.

ification formingpart of Letters'Patent No. 202,225, dated April 9, 1878; application filed March 7', 1878.

When the wheel is first constructed the feet or butts of spokes M are seated within the sockets L, so as to cause the shoulders N to bear against the peripheries of radial ribs K,

and the plate It is then screwed upon thethread 0 until the spokes are securely clamped between the smooth or annular faces H T, as seen at the bottom of the hub in Fig. 2. Nut E is then engaged with screw O of box A B, so as to prevent any accidental shifting of clamping-platelit. Awheel thus constructed is light, secure, and durable but in case the spokes should shrink or becomes loose fromany cause whatever, the wheel can be uniformly tightened by simply rotating clamp R in such a manner as to advance the cone J toward the outer end of the hub. By thus advancing said cone a simultaneous radial adjustment of all the spokes is effected, and Without shifting the feet 'or butts of the spokes either toward the outeror inner end of the hub, and consequently the spokes are maintained in precisely the same position as when originally fitted in the wheel.

The absence of lugs or other projections from the walls H T is another feature peculiar to my hub, as these smooth walls leave the spokes entirely free from their tenon ends to their feet, and therefore the spokes are not liable to be bent or sprung by resting against bearings interposed between the cone J and the felly of the wheel.

Another advantage is that a broken or injured spoke can be removed in a few minutes and a new one inserted in its place by simply unscrewing the clamp It, so as to obtain access to the feet of the spokes.

It will also be noticed that my hub is composed of but four members, thus insuring the I claim as my invention- The combination of box A B O, shell G I,

shiftable cone J K L O, clamping-plate R S, and nut D E, said shell and plate being provided, respectively, with smooth walls H T that bear against the spokes, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony of which invention I hereunto set my hand.

THEODORE BURNETT. Witnesses:

THos. KIZER, W. H. DUGDALE. 

